No evidence to support the practice of having patients fast prior to surgery to prevent post-surgery vomiting

Medical Xpress / University of California, Los Angeles / Surgery ^ | June 24, 2025 | Stephanie Lam et al

[ConservativeMind]

Fasting seems to have little benefit for patients needing surgery.

[ConservativeMind]

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[FamiliarFace]

I think this is done more for the doctors, nurses, and aides more than it’s for the patient.

[Georgia Girl 2]

I thought it was because of concerns at the other end. 😏

[FamiliarFace]

Either way, I don’t think they have care of the patient in mind.

[ansel12]

A year ago I was in the ICU fasting in case a surgery was needed, day after day there was no surgery and no food, after about 4 days I made the point that I was starving and raised some cain, I got the surgery but I wonder how long that game could have continued, I seemed to have been caught in some crack in the system, everyone seemed indecisive and uncertain.

[doorgunner69]

As if the stress of being operated on was not enough, got to do it hungry.

[lee martell]

I have had surgery a couple of times, many times with general anesthesia. As much as I like to eat, I am not terribly bothered by fasting prior to a surgery. My main reason for preferring to begin the procedure on an empty stomach is rather basic;

I want to do my part, not to have any extreme ‘bathroom accidents’ during the procedure! Other than avoiding my profound embarrassment, I don’t want to waste the time of the Surgeons and their Team. Then, I would need to re-schedule that same procedure, with the problem still unresolved.

A second reason, going into most surgeries understandably makes me a little nervous. Like going to the Dentist, or maybe a Job Interview. No one really knows what the exact outcome will be, not even the surgeon knows 100%. When I’m that tense, it’s not easy digesting a full meal, plus any beverages.

[doorgunner69]

Went in for RF ablation of my back nerves. Did not give the fasting instructions so no “twilight” IV nap. Supposedly gave me IV fetanyl but was wide awake and felt most everything.

Next time will starve rather than feeling that crap again.

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

An anesthesiologist once told me that it’s to keep anything you took in from interacting with the anesthesia and causing complications. That made sense to me at the time.

[Rockingham]

Au contraire. From personal experience, post-surgery vomiting is less unpleasant when fasting limits the volume.

[metmom]

Which is good news especially if you’re not fortunate enough to have your procedure/surgery scheduled first thing in the morning.

That said, I think it’s also foolhardy to eat too close to the procedure. I would think it would depend a lot on how a person’s stomach empties itself of food.

[married21]

When I had a c section, I forgot and drank a bit of water before the morning surgery. It came up in the recovery room. I think if I had not been fasting, a lot worse vomiting might well have occurred.

[Larry Lucido]

[Sacajaweau]

In my own mind....fasting would seem to be common sense...

[Hieronymus]

While those not fasting actually had a slightly decrease chance of vomiting, the incidence is too small to tell whether or not the volume of vomit was impacted.

If one of the four who skipped on fasting inhaled a fair bit, and the amount inhaled was nothing or marginal in the other three, and in all seven who fasted, I’d definitely opt for fasting, and from what I’ve read in this study (only the posted excerpt), I will personally remain pro-fasting.

[MayflowerMadam]

I’ve never been told the fasting is to prevent post-surgery vomiting. It’s so you don’t aspirate and choke during surgery. At least that’s what I’ve been told for decades and several surgeries.

Post-surgery, if you’re a post-surgery puker, which I am, you’re gonna retch whether there’s food or not. (They can deal with that now, with drugs.)

[Sgt_Schultze]

This has to be wrong. Fasting deniers should stop challenging settled science.

[glorgau]

Hmmm, last time I had knee surgery when getting a ride home I had to have the guy stop the car so I could puke on the side of the road. My rule is that when you have to puke be neat about it.

[linMcHlp]

Fasting before surgery <-- good.